Chapter 1253 (1/2)
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Theodora Greyman whispered.
Dear. President Greyman,
Thank you very much for your inquiry. However, neither Kharon nor the Order Ducis will be available to serve as guards during the inaugural football game. Of course, we take the mention of the attack on you during the game’s announcement very seriously. We believe there is a credible threat that another attack will come on your chosen day. However, the other Orders will likely be a sufficient deterrent; our presence would not only be superfluous, but misleading.
Hope all is well with you,
From the Desk of Randidly Ghosthound
Theodora Greyman crumpled up the letter into a tight little ball and then changed her mind. Her assistant Douglas stood impressively still as Theodora straightened the letter and then began meticulously tearing it to pieces. It took much more effort, but the process was quite satisfying. Afterward, she sighed and shook her head, “Really, from the desk of Randidly Ghosthound? Even if he’s really back like they say, he did not write this letter. Shit, it would have been less insulting if they had just ignored the request…”
“Are we going to do something about it, ma’am?” Douglas asked neutrally.
Theodora tilted her head at Douglas. Ever since having his foot burnt off and being forced to endure the obnoxious process of growing it back, Douglas’ affability had taken a huge hit. His face was always so gaunt and serious. Even worse, his eyes were rather constantly performing the surly sideglances of a rebellious teenager. At the very least, Theodora was glad it was directed at her political opponents. But still, the man needed to relax.
Sighing, Theodora shook her head. “There’s little to do. It will strengthen the calls to remove the Order Ducis as the head Order, but I doubt it will change the opinions of the people who truly matter. Despite his… lack of recent activity, Randidly Ghosthound is not a foe that is easy to assail. Even I…”
But at that, Theodora trailed off. She had started speaking with the intention of admitting that she held a deep fear toward Randidly Ghosthound, but was that really someone who was chairperson of the World Council should admit? Especially after she had been starkly shown the limitations of Mjolnir in the attack ten days prior, it had occurred to Theodora that it would be much more reassuring to have some she could trust to protect her.
That was the sort of security they needed for the inaugural football game. Not a weapon of mass destruction that was beginning to experience slight deviations in its targeting parameters…
Yet the experiments in creating a singular avatar that is constructed the same way as Mjolnir have had… unpredictable results. Theodora pursed her lips. And although Zone 1’s military is competent, there haven’t been any real standouts in the past few years...
Theodora was snapped back from her wandering thoughts by Douglas’ curt expression. “Yes? Was there something else?”
Douglas bowed. “Mark Rowel is here to talk about the defensive arrangements for the game. He also wanted to talk about the position of the VIP box-”
A familiar headache bloomed behind Theodora Greyman’s eyes. “What is the issue? Is the Order Valorem withdrawing its offer to supply manpower to the event?”
“Quite the opposite, Madam President,” The door to Theodora’s office was pushed open and Mark Rowel strolled into the room like he owned it. After glancing at the gold pocket watch in his hand, he smiled up at Theodora with some genuine guilt, mollifying her somewhat. “Sorry for intruding, but I figured it would be easier to hear directly from my mouth.”
The current head of the Order Valorem removed his coat and offered it to Douglas. After Theodora’s nod, Douglas took the coat and removed himself from the room. Theodora sat very straight as she considered the man in front of her. “Apologies at my strong reaction. Simply put, I haven’t had much good news about the inaugural game this week. I assumed your message was similarly disappointing.”
The corner of Mark’s mouth quirked upward. “The Order Ducis still hasn’t responded? How typical. They are a leaderless-”
“Actually, they flatly denied my request. It seems they don’t find the game to be very important.” Theodora Greyman watched the interplay of emotions across Mark Rowel’s face.
His expression quickly turned stony. “It seems… Randidly Ghosthound is truly back, huh…? Well, I can assure you that his return will not stop me from pursuing what is right for Earth. The Order Ducis should give way and pass its responsibilities to us, the Order Valorem, the ones who are truly out there protecting the people. Randidly Ghosthound… is ultimately one man. What can one man do?”
What indeed? Theodora thought to herself. But she was remembering the inspiring power demonstrated by Alana Donal as she had ridden the Frost Dragon Broodmother to fight against the towering bloodbeast.
Rather than getting dragged into the man’s rather irrelevant conversation topic, Theodora instead asked, “You said quite the opposite of withdrawing your promised manpower? That certainly is a welcome thing to hear.”
The confident expression returned to Mark’s face as he nodded. “Perhaps due to our recent activities, recruitment is at an all-time high. A new batch of Knight-Errants recently finished their training and will be ready for the match. I can provide an extra two hundred capable individuals beyond what I already promised you.”